Crew Remained Arrieta's Top Choice

Through an offseason of uncertainty, one tenant remained constant for Jairo
Arrieta: he wanted to return to the Crew in 2014.

Other than that, there were a number of variables in play for the Crew
forward. A sub-par 2013 season and expensive contract led to the Crew declining his option for
2014, only to eventually work out a more cap-friendly deal. A source has told
The Dispatch that Arrieta’s contract is less than
half what he was paid last season.

Standing on the indoor turf fields at SuperKick in Lewis Center last week,
however, Arrieta said none of that mattered when he pondered his future.

“Columbus has definitely been No. 1 for me,” he said through an
interpreter. “The way things work in MLS, Columbus would have been No. 1 for me. I’m just happy
that things came to an agreement. Obviously if they didn’t maybe other doors would open but I never
thought of it that way. Columbus has been No. 1 and I’m happy that I was able to make a name for
myself and I’m looking to pursue that and just work hard.”

By now, Crew fans are well-familiar with Arrieta’s story. After bursting
onto the scene in 2012 and tying for the team lead with nine goals in only 18 games, call-ups to
the Costa Rican national team and an inconsistent spot in the Crew lineup helped lead to a
sophomore slump for the striker. In 26 games including 21 starts, he notched only three goals while
struggling to show a consistent comfort level with the club.

With the start of the 2014 season less than 20 days away, Arrieta is set to
reprise his role as a key component in the Crew attack. The team has not signed any new forwards
other than re-signing Arrieta.

New coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter has been consistent in
praising Arrieta’s qualities, saying the team always wanted him back but just at a lower salary
number. As he has analyzed the Crew’s previous season, Berhalter said he felt Arrieta’s confidence
was lacking at times – a view Arrieta disputed.

“No, not at all,” he said. “For me it’s important that I keep on working
hard. As a goal scorer, I obviously want to be the leading goal scorer and work on my career. I’m
looking forward to hopefully being in the World Cup and representing my country. Obviously last
year I didn’t get the goals that I wanted to, but part of that is I’ve got to work hard now and I
am working hard. That’s what I’m focusing on now.”

Arrieta has already found the back of the net when he scored in the team’s
only preseason game so far, a 1-0 win against Swedish side Malmo FF on Feb. 5. Berhalter said he
was pleased to see Arrieta start the year on a positive.

“For me, any time you score a goal in the first game it gives you a
tremendous boost of confidence and it helps you out with the technical staff as well,” he said. “
For me, one of the focuses is to be part of the group and work together with the group to have the
best outcome.”

Arrieta’s visage graces the east side of Crew Stadium greeting drivers
passing by on nearby I-71. The same goes for teammate and friend Federico Higuain, who said he was
happy to see Arrieta re-signed during the winter.

“It’s great to see Jairo back, not only him but other guys like Dominic
(Oduro) and Josh (Williams) and some of the younger guys as well,” Higuain said. “It’s great to
have them back. They’re back for a reason and the players who are here are here for a reason and I
hope they can help elevate our game.”

“I’m very happy to be back,” Arrieta added. “I’m also very happy that we
came to a mutual understanding that allowed me to come back and play in this city. I’m just happy
that everything worked out.”

ajardy@dispatch.com
@AdamJardy

Through an offseason of uncertainty, one tenant remained constant for Jairo
Arrieta: he wanted to return to the Crew in 2014.

Other than that, there were a number of variables in play for the Crew
forward. A sub-par 2013 season and expensive contract led to the Crew declining his option for
2014, only to eventually work out a more cap-friendly deal. A source has told
The Dispatch that Arrieta’s contract is less than
half what he was paid last season.

Standing on the indoor turf fields at SuperKick in Lewis Center last week,
however, Arrieta said none of that mattered.

“Columbus has definitely been No. 1 for me,” he said through an
interpreter. “The way things work in MLS, Columbus would have been No. 1 for me. I’m just happy
that things came to an agreement. Obviously if they didn’t maybe other doors would open but I never
thought of it that way. Columbus has been No. 1 and I’m happy that I was able to make a name for
myself and I’m looking to pursue that and just work hard.”

By now, Crew fans are well-familiar with Arrieta’s story. After bursting
onto the scene in 2012 and tying for the team lead with nine goals in only 18 games, call-ups to
the Costa Rican national team and an inconsistent spot in the Crew lineup helped lead to a
sophomore slump for the striker. In 26 games including 21 starts, he notched only three goals while
struggling to show a consistent comfort level with the club.

With the start of the 2014 season less than 20 days away, Arrieta is set to
reprise his role as a key component in the Crew attack. The team has not signed any new forwards
other than re-signing Arrieta.

New coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter has been consistent in
praising Arrieta’s qualities, saying the team always wanted him back but just at a lower salary
number. As he has analyzed the Crew’s previous season, Berhalter said he felt Arrieta’s confidence
was lacking at times – a view Arrieta disputed.

“No, not at all,” he said. “For me it’s important that I keep on working
hard. As a goal scorer, I obviously want to be the leading goal scorer and work on my career. I’m
looking forward to hopefully being in the World Cup and representing my country. Obviously last
year I didn’t get the goals that I wanted to, but part of that is I’ve got to work hard now and I
am working hard. That’s what I’m focusing on now.”

Arrieta has already found the back of the net when he scored in the team’s
only preseason game so far, a 1-0 win against Swedish side Malmo FF on Feb. 5. Berhalter said he
was pleased to see Arrieta start the year on a positive.

“For me, any time you score a goal in the first game it gives you a
tremendous boost of confidence and it helps you out with the technical staff as well,” he said. “
For me, one of the focuses is to be part of the group and work together with the group to have the
best outcome.”

Arrieta’s visage graces the east side of Crew Stadium greeting drivers
passing by on nearby I-71. The same goes for teammate and friend Federico Higuain, who said he was
happy to see Arrieta re-signed during the winter.

“It’s great to see Jairo back, not only him but other guys like Dominic
(Oduro) and Josh (Williams) and some of the younger guys as well,” Higuain said. “It’s great to
have them back. They’re back for a reason and the players who are here are here for a reason and I
hope they can help elevate our game.”

“I’m very happy to be back,” Arrieta added. “I’m also very happy that we
came to a mutual understanding that allowed me to come back and play in this city. I’m just happy
that everything worked out.”